Control means for windshields



Sept. 19, 1933. A. T. POTTER CONTROL MEANS FOR WI-NDSHIELDS Filed July 20, 1931 mwah lINVENTCR HABER T Tpo T T572 BY l AT oRNEYs.

Patented Sept. 19, 1933Y region Arent erica 1,927,071 n conrnoi. M'sANsjron WINDSHIELDS' [naar tr. maar, permit, Mich., assigner' te Ainsworth Manufacturing Corporation', `a corporation of Michigan Application July 20', 1931. Serial No. 55l,823 l2 Claims." (Cl. 296-184) My invention relates to windshield regulating devices it has particular relation to devices for maintaining windshields of the tiltable type rin their various positions of angular adjustment.

5 The invention has for its main objects the provisien of a windshield regulating device or" the above indicated character which is provided with means for loosening the windshield from its seat in the initiation of outward swinging movement thereof; the provision of a Windshield regulating device which affords adequate mechanical advantage for urging the windshield into engagement with its seat upon closure thereof; the provision of a windshield regulating device which may be l5 operated securely to clamp the windshield in any desirable position of angular adjustment;

the provision of a windshield regulating device embodying resilient means for temporarily clamping the windshield in predetermined position; the provision of a regulating 'device for t'iltable windshields in which all working parts except a handle are normally concealed; the provision of a regulating device for tiltable windshields in which there are no parts projecting across the front doorway in any position; the provision of a windshield regulating device which may be operated with a minimum of eiiort on the part of thev operator, which is durable in construction and which may be manufactured at a minimum of 3G expense. These and other objects will be `ap-l parent from considerationv of the appended' specification and accompanying drawing. n

In one conventionall type of windshield struci ture for automotivevehicles, the windshieldl frame is hinged at -its upper edge to the corresponding edge of the windshield opening adjacent to the forward end of the vehicle roof. The edges VVof such windshields are normally sealed by meansA of a suitable rubbervveatherstrip andthe windshields are maintained in lpredeterminedfpositions of adjustment by means of a link hinged at one end to the iront post of the vehicle body and stick to the margins of the windsl'lield openings and as a result the application of considerable force is'necessary toV unseat the windshield Aand arranged that all parts except a small handle thus to permit outward swingingof the latter". The conventional windshield regulator does not embody meansforapplying the necessary initial force :for breaking the windshield from its seat and accordingly it is usually necessary ior the.6 operator` to unseat', the adhering members by striking the windshield a relatively sharp blow with his hand. This obviously is objectionable particularly to women drivers.l

The conventional structure is also objectional because it does not include means for firmly and securely pressing the windshield into engagement with the seat in order'to prevent the entrance of water about the edges thereof and iurther because the conventional wing nuts em- 70, Vplcyed for clamping the regulating links in various positions orY adjustment do not afford adecuate mechanical advantage to permit proper clamping actionupon the link without'the exertion oiexcessive force upon the part of the operator. -limilarly,l release of .the nuts after they have beeny tightened necessitates vthe expenditure of excessive. eiorts.V Furthermore, in the conventional construction vthe adjustable links' are normally exposed and the rear ends thereof may in certain kpositions project partially across the doorway and constitute a hazard to passengers entering or leaving the vehicle.

This invention contemplates the provision of awindshield regulator including cams aiording great mechanical advantage for unseating and reseating the windshield, and further includingy a ,crank which functions'both as means for operating the cams and as means for readily operating' aclamping. nut for engaging the regulating link, whereby ,the above indicated defects ofrtheslottedlink windshield regulator are substantially 'overconieLv The mechanism is also Aso areI concealed and there is no possibility of them obstructingiAthe-front doorway'. l

For' a better understanding of the invention reference may now-be had to theapp'endedv specication and accompanying drawing, Yin the latter of which "Figurejl is an'elevational View oa windshield in connection with which my invention may be employed. v

Fig. 2k isfa fragmentary cross sectional'vievf Staken substantially'upon the line 2-42 of Fig. 1

nism'. 110

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the regulating device.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional View substantially upon the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a plan view or a lock washer employed. in connection with the Windshield regulator clamping mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an elevational View of the Washer disclosed in Fig. 6.

In practicing the invention a Windshield structure embodying a glass panel .1.0 and a marginal frame 12 therefor of conventional construction is hinged by means of a conventional hinge structure indicated at 14 to the upper frame portion 16 of a vehicle body i7 about the windshield opening. Windshield. regulating devices indicated generally as at 18 preferably of .identical design are secured to each end portion 2l) of the windshield frame.

Eaci of those devices includes a vertical plate 22 secured to a forwardly extending ange 24 of the front body post 26 by means of rivets 28. is best shown in Fig. 4, the plate 22 formed with a laterally oiset shoulder 30 and a forwardly projecting lug portion 82 (shown in Fig. 2) the latter of which is bored to re eive a hinge pin 34 upon which the closure regulating link 36 is hingedly mounted.

g As best shown in Fig. 2 the lower extremity of the link is slotted at 3S to receive a second hinge pin 40 that extends tlirough a rearwardly extending bracket 42 having a laterally extending iiange 44. The latter is secured to an end portion 2o of the windshield trame by means of screws 46 extending through the hollow Walls of the frame and engaging a fish plate 48 therewithin. Bracket 42 and link 3S are so proportioned and disposed that the end oi the link will clear the glass l0 at all times.V is best shown in Fig. 5 the flange 44 is formed with a slotted portion 5) and the metal therefrom. is bent laterally as indicated at 52 for a purpose which is later to be described.

The pin 4Q is formed With a boss portion 54 adjacent to its inner end and a crank arm` 56 having a handle 58 is mounted thereupon. The boss is formed with a i'lattened portion 60 which functions as a key to prevent rotation `between the arm 56 and the pin 40 and. further, the boss is upset as indicated at 62 to prevent axial displacement of the crank arm thereirom-` The pin is also formed with a shoulder 64 rotatably bearing against the-inner iace or the bracket 42 and a reduced stemv portion 66 extends throughv the brackets and also through the slot 38 in the link 36 and is provided at its outer extremity with a screw threaded portion 68. A Washer '70 slidably mounted upon theportion 66 is provided at its extremity with a'dotvnwardly projecting lug *72 which extends ivi-thin the opening 50 in the vbase portion of the bracket 42 thereby to prevent rotation of the Washerabout the portion 66. Y

A Ylug 'Z4 which extends laterally as shown in Figs. 4 and Lito engage a groove 'i6 formed in a lateral face of a polygonal lock .nut 78, thus to prevent rotation of the latter. The nut, is threaded upon lthe stem o5 the pineto and is providedwit'n a cavity 30 which receives a compression spring 82 vthat bears at one endv against the outer end .of the cavity and at the other end resiliently engagesthe adjacent faces oi the Washer 'l0 whereby to urge the latter into engagement with the 'face of the link 36.

lt is to be understood that the threads of the ut 8 are of such pitch as to produce proper clamping action upon rotation ofthe nut ap proximately one quarter oi a turn.

Asbest shown in Fig. 2, the forward edge of the plate 22 is formed with an inwardly extending curvilinear cam lug 83 disposed approximately concentric With the pin 4G when the windshield is closed. This cam is engaged interiorly upon rotation Yoi the lever 56 to release the nut 78 by a second arcuate cam lug 84, the cord of Vwhich extends at right angles to the .lever upon the lever whereby to urge the wind shield away from its seat. A third arcuate cam 85 is formed upon the arm 55 adjacent to the y lower end and cord thereof extends at such angle to the axis or" the arm that initial movement of the arm 5S during rotation of nut 78 to clamp link 3G in verticalposition is effective to draw the Windshield into seating position.

As ybest shown in Fig. 4 the inner face oi the body post 26 is sheathed by a plate 85 having a marginal portion 87 forwardly bent and ex tending between the lever 55 andthe link Soto provide a housingv about the latter When the Windshield is closed. lit is oi' course, to be understood that the forward edge of this flange is notched as indioated at S8 in Fig. 2 to permit the rearward movement of the'pin 40 adequate to bring the Windshield into engagement with l the seating portion, about the opening therefor. rThe seat i'or the Windshield includes a metallic plate 90 extending about the body post 2G and provided with an inwardly extending flange 92 and an outwardly extending shoulder 94 ywhich respectively engage flanges 96 and 98 oi a rubber weatherstrip lili). The latter is disposed in a channel formed at the outer margin oi? the Windshield by reilexly 'bending portions iilZ and 104 to provide a laterally extending ila-nge or double thickness and then rearwardly bending a portion lo@ the flange to provide the channel, for the reception of the base portion of the Weatherstrip idd.

The operation of my improved Windshield regulating mechanism may be described as follows. ltrivill be assumed that the windshield is in retracted position with the flanges 96 and 98 oi' the iveatherstrip in engagement with the vcor-- responding seating portions 92 and. 94 of the sheathing plate 9U. in this position ofthe windshield the regulator link 35 will be disposed ver1m ticallyV and the crank arm` 55 will be disposed substantially parallel thereto with the handle portion 58 uppermost.

In this position the nut 'Z8 will be firmly drawn "against the washer "lo to cause the'latter to clamp the link 35 against the face of thobracket 42 thus firmly securing the Windshield in closed position. Ii it is desired to open the Windshield the operator grasps theV handle 53 and Vrotates the` lever 55 downwardly 'thereby rotating the pin 4@ and releasing the inner face of the nut 'i8 from engagement with the Washer '10. It will be understoodthat although the Washer and nut i come by the exertion of Va moderate torce against lthe Windshield.

it Will also be understood that initial rotation Gil a stop is provided for preventing the rotatable arm from striking the windshield.

8. A windshield regulating device comprising brackets secured to a windshield and to a vehicle body, a link interconnecting the brackets, the link having a hinged connection at one end to one of the brackets, and having a slot at the other end, a screwthreaded pin extending through the other bracket and the slot, a hollow clamping nut on the screw, a washer between the nut and the link, a spring within the nut actuating the Washer into engagement with the link, and means preventing rotation of the nut and washer with respect to each other and with respect to the adjacent bracket.

9. In combination, a stationary frame element, a windshield element or the like pivotally connected thereto for hinging movement, a link movably connected to one of the elements and slidably connected to the other so that the shield may be opened and closed, manually operable handle means mounted on one of the elements including means adapted to cooperate with the other element to initially start opening of the windshield to overcome binding, and to draw the shield into a tightly closed position during final closing movement, upon movement of the handle alternately between certain positions, and means cooperatively connecting such manually operable means with the link so that upon moving the handle toy that position causing initial opening of the shield, the link will be free to move and hence the .shield may be opened completely Without further or other movement of the handle.

lo. 1n combination, a stationary frame element, a windshield element or the like pivotally connected thereto for hinging movement, a link movably connected to one of the elements and slidably connected to the other so that the shield' may be opened and closed, manually operable handle means mounted on one of the elements including means adapted to cooperate with the other element to initially start opening of the windshield to overcome binding, and to draw the shield into atightly closed position during nal closing movement, upon movement of the handle alternately between certain positions,v and means cooperatively connecting such manually operable means with the link so Vthat upon movingv the handle to that position causing initial opening of .the shield, the link Will be free to move and hence the shield may be opened farther Without further or other movement of the handle, the means operatively connecting the link to the manually operable means being or such character that after partial or complete opening of the shield, with the handle in the last mentioned position, a movement of the handle to its other position will lock the shield in such open position. Y

1l. In combination, a stationary frame, a Windshield or the like pivoted in the frame for hinging movement, a link movably connected to one element and having slidable engagement with the other so that the shield` may be opened and closed, a handle operated mechanism connected to one oi the elements and cooperatively connected to the link that upon moving the handle to oneposition, the shield, link and stationary frame are locked together and upon moving the handle to another position, the windshield and link are free to move, and means operatively forming a part of the handle operated means and adapted to cooperate with that element other than the one upon which the manually i operable means is mounted, for causing initial opening of the windshield after it is closed, upon Y moving the handle to that position in which the shield is free to be moved, and for drawing the shield from substantially closed position into tightly closed position when the handle is moved to its other` position. Y

12. In combination, a stationary frame element, a windshield element or the like pivotally connected thereto for hinging movement, a link pivots-ly connected to one of the elements and having'a slot at its other end extending longitudinally thereof, a pin on the other element projecting into the slot in the link, a crank mounted on the pin, means for releasing or holding the slotted portion of the link with respect to the pin upon turning of the crank from one position to another, so that the shield may be held in any f 

